Fire-escape



2 sheets-sen 2.

G. KLIPP.v

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 8. 1889.

Mai-656652 N. Pzmzs. Pmwumagmpner. wwnngzm no UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE KLIPP, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,630, dated October 8, 1889. Application filed July 13, 1889. Serial No. 317,482. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, GEORGE KLIPP, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire- Jscapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same', reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

My improvement relates to that class of fireescapes where a chain with a weighted ball attached is confined in a chamber at any suitable' point and is released in case of fire and falls to the ground, thereby enabling persons to descend without difficulty.

My invention consists in the means for operating the apparatus, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a window, showing my improvement attached beneath it, and the chain released and extending to the ground in condition to be used as a .fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section in line of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section in line y y of Fig. l. Fig. et is an enlarged cross-section of the windowsill in line z ,e of Fig. l, theboX being closed and the ball and chain confined therein. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus for releasing the door iny case of fire.

A indicates one of the windows, and B the outside sill of the same. The sill is provided with a chamber a in its face, which opens outward and is covered by a hinged door b, capable of being turned outward and downward at an incline, as shown in Fig. 2. When so turned downward, it strikes and rests on suitable brackets c c, secured to the sill or to the face of the building. ln this condition the cavity of the sill is left open, and the door forms a chute for the ready discharge of the chain and ball. C is the chain, and d the weighted ballv attached thereto. `The inner end of the chain is attached to a cross-rod f or some other suitable support.

gis an inclinedl table or chute on which theball rests. The ball is held and confined by the door h when closed; but when the door is opened the ball rolls out from the table g and over the inclined door h and falls to the ground, carrying the chain with it, thus ena abling persons to pass down over the chain to the ground. Instead of a chain, a rope or cable may be used.

h is a curved spring attached inside the cavity a, and pressing against the door and forcing it open when the catch that holds the door is released. Two or more of these springs may be used, if desired.

la is the catch that holds the door closed, and l is a loop attached to the door that engages therewith. rlhe catch is simply a spring having a downwardly-curved outer end. The loop when it comes up strikes the curved end and engages therewith.

D is a slide for releasing the catch la, and allowing the door to fall open. This slide rests in the top of the cavity a and under the catch k, which latter crosses it at right angles, as shown. The slide is provided with an incline fm, forming a camsurface. When the slide is forced to the left, this cam slides under the catch lo and raises it so that it releases the loop of the door. When drawn to the right, it lets the catch spring back in position to engage the loop again. n is a spiral olr other spring for producing reaction of the s ide.

E is a tube or a rod resting vertically in a casing 19 on one sid e, and extending the whole height of the building. This tube slides vertically in guides r r, and it is provided with rack-sections s s opposite each window, corresponding in number with the number of floors in the building.

o o o are a set of gears pivoted inside the casing p, and engaging, respectively, with the racks s s, as shown in Fig. 3.

w w fw are handles attached to the gears and extending outside the casing in convenient position to be operated by any one in case of rire.

u u are a series of bell-cranks pivoted in the casing, one end being connected with the end of slide D by a flexible connection j, and the other with the tube E by a similar connection e. It will be seen that when the tube E is raised the slide D will be drawn endwise through the medium of the bell-crank, and the doors b b will be released, allowing the ball and chain to be dropped. The tube E can be operated on any one of the floors by means of the handle fw.

It is designed to locate the apparatus atthe ICO highest one ofv a tier .of Windows in a building and allow the chain to fall from the highest point across all the Windows of the tier. Thus it Will accommodate the occupants of all the floors. In case of fire the chain and ball can be released by operating the lever on any one of the Hoors, as before described. Fires frequently break out on some of the lower iloors and the occupants of the upper floors know nothing of it till passage-Way down the stairs is cut olf. In such case the apparatus will be released ready for their descent. If desired, an alarm apparatus may be connected, so as to be sounded When the escape apparatus is set.

The novelty consists in the means above described, whereby the chain can be released from any liooiu, n p p l, Having described my in vention ,what I claini as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

.Y l. In a fire-escape, the combination', with the hinged door b, provided with the loop l, of the` catch 71:, engaging with said loop, the slide D, provided with a cam ml for operating the. catch, the reacting spring n, connected with one end of the slide, the bell-crank u, connected With the other end of the slide, the tube E, provided with a rack s for operating the bell-crank, the gear fv, engaging with the rack, and the handle w for operating the gear, as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a lire-escape, the combination, with mechanism for releasing a door which incloses a chain and ball, of a tube extending the Whole height of a building and connected Witlrsaid mechanism, gears engaging With racks on said tube opposite each floor, and handles for operating the gears, whereby the drop mechanism may be operated from any iioor, as herein shownand described. l y

In witnesswhereof I have hereunto lsigned my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE KLIIP.

Vitnesses:

R. F. OsGooD, WM. J. MCPHERSON; 

